If you’ve ever worked with a designer or been on the designing end, you may see that the process can be a grueling one — especially if you don’t know what you want.

We’ve come up with a process at our company that weeds out 90% of the graphic issues but when the 10% happens, we have a process that is easily followed to achieve maximum results.

The key in having graphics done is to communicate, very clearly, what you want or need.

Here is an example:

Bad Way to Request Design Work

Dear Graphic Designer,

I need a header done for my website.  I’d like it clean but sassy.  Professional yet not uptight.  Bold yet girlie.  Sophisticated yet conventional.  I like purples, blues, greys, greens and golds.

I want a stock photo of a woman holding a typewriter or maybe a man jogging to his destination.  I would like some curves around the edges but want to portray a 3D effect too.

I guess, what I need is for you to come up with something based on that and then I’ll decide.

Undecided in Graphic Land

Good Way to Request Design Work

Dear Graphic Designer,

I need a header done for my website.  Here is the site template so you can get an idea of the dimensions: URL GOES HERE.

Here is a stock photo I found at www.stockxpert.com which conveys the type of look I’d like in the header:  http://www.stockxpert.com/browse_image/view/46586501

Based on that, I used www.colorschemer.com to generate the following color palette: http://bit.ly/14rDWQ.  I like the dull set versus the bright set.

I’ve also drawn up a sample of what I’m thinking it could look like.  I just did this in Microsoft Paint so mind the graphics but at least it will give you a sample layout.

Text on the graphic should read: TEXT GOES HERE.

Thank you!

Happy Client, Happy Team

When You Don’t Know What You Want

If you are not sure of what you might want for your design, the key is to research and get a feel for things that you like.  However, force yourself to get specific.  Provide your design team with:

• Samples of other work you’ve seen that you like
• Stock photos that you like
• Color palettes that you want to use
• Drawing (hand drawing or a Microsoft Paint / Photoshop drawing)

Be prepared to have many, many conversations with your designer if you don’t know what you want.  They will want to get you specific before starting designs because in the design world, mock-ups = money.

When You Don’t Really Care What You Get

Yes, these people exist!  I’m actually one of them myself!

When you don’t really care what you get and you want the designer to take full creative control, provide your guidelines and let the designer work their magic.  This will provide you with some fresh perspective on what you may not have thought of before!

All in all, be kind and work through the process.  There’s a lot of awesomeness that can come out of the graphic work!